Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii in the blood of febrile patients referred to laboratories and hospitals in Khorramabad, Iran from 2015 to 2016.

BACKGROUND

Q fever is a zoonotic infectious disease.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to detect the presence of C. burnetii in blood samples of feverish individuals (Contact with livestock; sheep, goats, and cattle, Consumption of unpasteurized dairy products) collected from hospitals at Khorramabad, Iran.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A total number of 199 blood samples were collected from patients with fever from August 2015 to November 2016. Nested-PCR, using specific primers targeting the Com1 and icd genes, was employed to diagnose C. burnetii.

RESULTS

Out of 199 blood samples, 16 samples were positive with Com1 gene (8 %; 95 % CI: 5.5-17.4) primers and 13 samples were positive with icd gene (6.5 % 95 % CI: 3.9 %-10.9 %) primers (table 2 is necessary). No significant correlation was observed between the variables and the positive result of PCR (p < 0.05) according to the study conducted using SPSS software.

CONCLUSIONS

Q fever is present in patients from Khorramabad according to this study. Therefore, it should be considered as one of the possible causes of fever and non-specific symptoms in patients. It should be taken into consideration by health policy makers.